Assistant Psychologist

Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust

This job is now closed

Job summary

This post offers an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and committed Assistant Psychologist to contribute to the delivery of psychologically-informed services offered by the North West Integrated Community Pathways Service (NW ICPS). The NW ICPS is part of the London Pathways Partnership (LPP). LPP is a consortium of five NHS Trusts co-delivering a pan-London service for the national Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway alongside Probation Service London (PSL) colleagues. The OPD Pathway provides services to men and women with complex personality difficulties and serious offending histories, and to the multi-agency professionals working with them. As part of this, the NW ICPS delivers consultation, training and joint casework to PSL, and case management and therapeutic interventions to people on probation. There is also an active social inclusion and service user involvement programme.

To support delivery of services by the NW ICPS, the post-holder will assist with, or be responsible for, a variety of activities. These include writing formulations under supervision and administering psychometric measures. As part of this, there will be opportunities to develop assessment and clinical skills in both individual and group settings. The post holder will also create and manage databases for clinical, audit and research activities.

Main duties of the job

To undertake projects relating to service development using skills in evaluation, audit and research.
To set up and maintain databases/spreadsheets and, using advanced IT skills, to use these to support with screening, consultation and monitoring of service users.
To support consultation, assessment and treatment interventions undertaken by the service as appropriate to level of competence and training under supervision from a qualified Psychological Therapist.
To plan, organise and co-facilitate psycho-educational workshops and groups with appropriately qualified professional staff.
To liaise with a range of services (including health, social care and voluntary agencies) relevant to the working area and contribute to the development of the ethos of strong partnerships within the OPD pathway.

The postholder will join a service which, together with Probation Service London (PSL) colleagues and people on probation, provides specialist consultation, advice and training to NHS and PSL and other agencies, as well as delivering a desistance-focused stabilisation phase of the ICPS to people on probation who present with complex personality difficulties and a high risk of harm to others. There will also be a requirement for the postholder to support the delivery of an Enhanced treatment pathway through carrying out administrative tasks and maintaining appropriate records.

About us

LPP is committed to providing a comprehensive training package to all staff in order to promote continuing professional development. As such, there will be opportunities to undertake training on personality disorder, risk assessment/management and cultural competency. On occasion, there will be opportunities to co-facilitate training events to a variety of multiagency staff on similar topics.

The post-holder will be based within the NW ICPS base at St John Street Probation Office in Islington. However, they will be working across the NW London area to support all elements of the service provided by the NW ICPS. The boroughs supported by the NW ICPS are Camden and Islington, Enfield & Haringey; Harrow & Barnet, Brent, Ealing & Hillingdon, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington, Chelsea & Westminster.

Date posted

02 November 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£30,279 to £33,116 a year Per annum inclusive of Inner London HCAS

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

306-BEH-1463

Job locations

401 St John Street, Angel

London

EC1V 4RW

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

To support Psychological Therapists with assessments and interventions (for example risk assessments, semi-structured interviews, self-report measures and neuropsychological tests), as appropriate to level of training, competence and under live or regular supervision from a qualified Psychological Therapist.
To formulate and deliver care, training or research plans within settings where there may be a hostile atmosphere, challenging behaviour or high levels of expressed emotion.
To support the delivery of evidence based psychological interventions for clients.
To assist in the development of psychologically based frameworks of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service.
To conduct literature searches, collate audit and outcome evidence, analyse relevant data and produce reports to inform and enhance care delivered by the service.
To work with other team members to improve care, training and research practices and the quality of life of clients.
To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings.
To carry out other clinical and administrative tasks as appropriate to the post holders grade.
To be up to date with both de-escalation, physical breakaway and PMVA techniques appropriate to the service environment.

Research and Service Evaluation

To initiate, implement and contribute to the evaluation, monitoring and development of the service, including audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within and across the service, to help enhance service delivery
To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research in order to promote evidence based clinical practice. This will contribute to the clinical work of Psychological Therapists and other team members.
To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

Administration

To develop and manage systems for efficient administration and co-ordination of care, training or research.
To establish and maintain records and statistics concerning the service.
To be acquainted with, implement and maintain all relevant Trust and Psychology and Psychological Therapies policies and procedures.
To report immediately any incidents affecting staff, users or visitors on health service property in accordance with Trust policies.
To maintain and manage systems for stock control of Psychology materials, including books, tests, test materials and other equipment.
To manage diaries, work plans and project plans as required.

IT responsibilities

To develop and manage systems for efficient administration and co-ordination of care, training or research.
To establish and maintain records and statistics concerning the service.
To be acquainted with, implement and maintain all relevant Trust and Psychology and Psychological Therapies policies and procedures.
To carry out other administrative tasks as appropriate to the post holders grade.

Professional Issues

To abide by the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct.
To maintain confidentiality in line with Trust policy
To participate in clinical and professional audit.
To participate in and contribute to Quality Assurance initiatives.
To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

General

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through the active participation in internal and external Continuing Professional Development training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders line manager and service manager[s].
To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice across the service by continuing to develop relevant professional skills through regular engagement with supervision and line management from a qualified Psychological Therapist.
To participate fully in the Trusts performance review and personal development planning process on an annual basis.
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping (including electronic data entry and recording) and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.
To maintain confidentiality and information governance in line with Trust policy.

Job description

Job responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

To support Psychological Therapists with assessments and interventions (for example risk assessments, semi-structured interviews, self-report measures and neuropsychological tests), as appropriate to level of training, competence and under live or regular supervision from a qualified Psychological Therapist.
To formulate and deliver care, training or research plans within settings where there may be a hostile atmosphere, challenging behaviour or high levels of expressed emotion.
To support the delivery of evidence based psychological interventions for clients.
To assist in the development of psychologically based frameworks of understanding and care to the benefit of all clients of the service.
To conduct literature searches, collate audit and outcome evidence, analyse relevant data and produce reports to inform and enhance care delivered by the service.
To work with other team members to improve care, training and research practices and the quality of life of clients.
To attend and contribute to multi-disciplinary meetings.
To carry out other clinical and administrative tasks as appropriate to the post holders grade.
To be up to date with both de-escalation, physical breakaway and PMVA techniques appropriate to the service environment.

Research and Service Evaluation

To initiate, implement and contribute to the evaluation, monitoring and development of the service, including audit and service evaluation, with colleagues within and across the service, to help enhance service delivery
To undertake data collection, analysis, the production of reports and summaries, using IT and statistical programmes.
To undertake searches of evidence-based literature and research in order to promote evidence based clinical practice. This will contribute to the clinical work of Psychological Therapists and other team members.
To attend meetings in which service developments are planned and discussed.

Administration

To develop and manage systems for efficient administration and co-ordination of care, training or research.
To establish and maintain records and statistics concerning the service.
To be acquainted with, implement and maintain all relevant Trust and Psychology and Psychological Therapies policies and procedures.
To report immediately any incidents affecting staff, users or visitors on health service property in accordance with Trust policies.
To maintain and manage systems for stock control of Psychology materials, including books, tests, test materials and other equipment.
To manage diaries, work plans and project plans as required.

IT responsibilities

To develop and manage systems for efficient administration and co-ordination of care, training or research.
To establish and maintain records and statistics concerning the service.
To be acquainted with, implement and maintain all relevant Trust and Psychology and Psychological Therapies policies and procedures.
To carry out other administrative tasks as appropriate to the post holders grade.

Professional Issues

To abide by the BPS Code of Ethics and Conduct.
To maintain confidentiality in line with Trust policy
To participate in clinical and professional audit.
To participate in and contribute to Quality Assurance initiatives.
To develop skills and competencies that assist in the delivery of current duties.

General

To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through the active participation in internal and external Continuing Professional Development training and development programmes, in consultation with the post holders line manager and service manager[s].
To contribute to the development and articulation of best practice across the service by continuing to develop relevant professional skills through regular engagement with supervision and line management from a qualified Psychological Therapist.
To participate fully in the Trusts performance review and personal development planning process on an annual basis.
To maintain the highest standards of clinical record keeping (including electronic data entry and recording) and report writing in accordance with professional codes of practice of the British Psychological Society and Trust policies and procedures.
To maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and issues in relation to both the specific client group and mental health.
To maintain confidentiality and information governance in line with Trust policy.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Honours degree at 2:2 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS

Desirable

Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis

Knowledge&Experience

Essential

Relevant clinical and research skills
Experience of working as part of a team
Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health context
An understanding of psychology applied to health care

Desirable

Experience of working with people with complex needs
Experience of the use of psychometric tests
Experience of working with people with disabilities, in a health or Mental Health setting
Experience of group work and individual therapeutic contact
Experience of in-patient settings
Experience of teaching other health professionals
Lived experience of mental health issues

Skills-Communication/Relationship skills:

Essential

To be able to communicate effectively under pressure and maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times
To be able to provide and receive complex sensitive or contentious information in a potentially highly emotive atmosphere.
To be able to work with resistance to ideas High standard of report writing

Skills- Analytical & Judgement skills

Essential

To assimilate complex information and use reflective/analytic thinking, to apply psychological perspectives in work in a healthcare setting

Skills-Planning & Organisational skills

Essential

Ability to be flexible and cope with multiple demands. Capable of using initiative and organise work to agreed goals.
Ability to work independently and know when to ask for and use supervision, identifying when there is need for advice and using supervision at agreed intervals

Skills-IT Skills

Essential

Information technology skills. To have highly developed IT skills and good working knowledge of statistical packages

Abilities - Mental Effort

Essential

Need to maintain frequent high levels of concentration for long periods in managing agreed projects alone or with team members

Abilities- Working Conditions

Essential

To sit for extended periods of time in constrained positions in order to complete PC-based projects and other project tasks
Ability to use a PC

Skills-Physical skills:

Essential

Requires manual dexterity and good eye-hand coordination to administer neuropsychological tests and use computer key boards.
Able to carry out PMVA interventions

Abilities- Emotional Effort

Essential

Ability to tolerate and remain calm in the face of high levels of emotional distress and emotional demands Ability to tolerate occasional exposure to verbal abuse and hostility

Approach/Values

Essential

Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care group and those of the Trust
Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
Team working
Ability to travel across sites
Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Other

Essential

Achievement and sustainment of probation security vetting clearance.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Honours degree at 2:2 or above in Psychology, or equivalent. Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS

Desirable

Further post graduate training in relevant area of professional psychology, health and social care practice, and / or research design and analysis

Knowledge&Experience

Essential

Relevant clinical and research skills
Experience of working as part of a team
Basic knowledge of databases, research skills and methodology
Ability to apply existing psychological knowledge to a health context
An understanding of psychology applied to health care

Desirable

Experience of working with people with complex needs
Experience of the use of psychometric tests
Experience of working with people with disabilities, in a health or Mental Health setting
Experience of group work and individual therapeutic contact
Experience of in-patient settings
Experience of teaching other health professionals
Lived experience of mental health issues

Skills-Communication/Relationship skills:

Essential

To be able to communicate effectively under pressure and maintain a high degree of professionalism at all times
To be able to provide and receive complex sensitive or contentious information in a potentially highly emotive atmosphere.
To be able to work with resistance to ideas High standard of report writing

Skills- Analytical & Judgement skills

Essential

To assimilate complex information and use reflective/analytic thinking, to apply psychological perspectives in work in a healthcare setting

Skills-Planning & Organisational skills

Essential

Ability to be flexible and cope with multiple demands. Capable of using initiative and organise work to agreed goals.
Ability to work independently and know when to ask for and use supervision, identifying when there is need for advice and using supervision at agreed intervals

Skills-IT Skills

Essential

Information technology skills. To have highly developed IT skills and good working knowledge of statistical packages

Abilities - Mental Effort

Essential

Need to maintain frequent high levels of concentration for long periods in managing agreed projects alone or with team members

Abilities- Working Conditions

Essential

To sit for extended periods of time in constrained positions in order to complete PC-based projects and other project tasks
Ability to use a PC

Skills-Physical skills:

Essential

Requires manual dexterity and good eye-hand coordination to administer neuropsychological tests and use computer key boards.
Able to carry out PMVA interventions

Abilities- Emotional Effort

Essential

Ability to tolerate and remain calm in the face of high levels of emotional distress and emotional demands Ability to tolerate occasional exposure to verbal abuse and hostility

Approach/Values

Essential

Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Care group and those of the Trust
Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
Team working
Ability to travel across sites
Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required

Other

Essential

Achievement and sustainment of probation security vetting clearance.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information